Volunteers, try to continue Ann Marie Tarinelli's legacy of feeding the needy and homeless on Sundays under the Rt. 25 overpass on John Street in Bridgeport, Conn. Tarinelli, of Trumbull, passed away in January. less

Volunteers, try to continue Ann Marie Tarinelli's legacy of feeding the needy and homeless on Sundays under the Rt. 25 overpass on John Street in Bridgeport, Conn. Tarinelli, of Trumbull, passed away in ... more

Photo: BK Angeletti, B.K. Angeletti

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Jennifer Piscitelli, of Trumbull, right, and other volunteers try to continue Ann Marie Tarinelli's legacy of feeding the needy and homeless on Sundays under the Rt. 25 overpass on John Street. Tarinelli, of Trumbull, passed away in January. less

Jennifer Piscitelli, of Trumbull, right, and other volunteers try to continue Ann Marie Tarinelli's legacy of feeding the needy and homeless on Sundays under the Rt. 25 overpass on John Street. Tarinelli, of ... more

Members of the House of Prayer & Deliverance Church, in Bridgeport, unload hot food for a meal they serve under a highway overpass every month on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Church members and other volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month of Ann Marie Tarinelli, who served meals for many years in the same location. less

Members of the House of Prayer & Deliverance Church, in Bridgeport, unload hot food for a meal they serve under a highway overpass every month on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. ... more

People wait in line for a hot meal, which is served once a month under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month of Ann Marie Tarinelli, who served meals for many years in the same location. less

People wait in line for a hot meal, which is served once a month under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving ... more

People wait in line for a hot meal, which is served once a month under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month of Ann Marie Tarinelli, who served meals for many years in the same location. less

People wait in line for a hot meal, which is served once a month under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving ... more

Pastor Ulysses Youngblood, from the House of Prayer & Deliverance Church, in Bridgeport, leads a prayer prior to the serving of a hot meal under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Church members and other volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month of Ann Marie Tarinelli, who served meals for many years in the same location. less

Pastor Ulysses Youngblood, from the House of Prayer & Deliverance Church, in Bridgeport, leads a prayer prior to the serving of a hot meal under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., ... more

People pray prior to the serving of a hot meal under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Church members and other volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month of Ann Marie Tarinelli, who served meals for many years in the same location. less

People pray prior to the serving of a hot meal under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Church members and other volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of ... more

A hot meal is served under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month of Ann Marie Tarinelli, who served meals for many years in the same location. less

A hot meal is served under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month ... more

A hot meal is served under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month of Ann Marie Tarinelli, who served meals for many years in the same location. less

A hot meal is served under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month ... more

People wait in line for a hot meal, which is served once a month under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month of Ann Marie Tarinelli, who served meals for many years in the same location. less

People wait in line for a hot meal, which is served once a month under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving ... more

People wait in line for a hot meal, which is served once a month under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month of Ann Marie Tarinelli, who served meals for many years in the same location. less

People wait in line for a hot meal, which is served once a month under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving ... more

Michelle King, of Bridgeport, is served a hot meal under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month of Ann Marie Tarinelli, who served meals for many years in the same location. less

Michelle King, of Bridgeport, is served a hot meal under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going ... more

Volunteer Joyce House, right, serves chicken as part of the hot meal served under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month of Ann Marie Tarinelli, who served meals for many years in the same location. less

Volunteer Joyce House, right, serves chicken as part of the hot meal served under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition ... more

Michelle King and Shawn Frasier, both of Bridgeport, enjoy a hot meal served under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month of Ann Marie Tarinelli, who served meals for many years in the same location. less

Michelle King and Shawn Frasier, both of Bridgeport, enjoy a hot meal served under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition ... more

From left, Kesha Bennnett, Janet Short, Ivy Willoughby and Marty Seidman help serve a ahot meal under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month of Ann Marie Tarinelli, who served meals for many years in the same location. less

From left, Kesha Bennnett, Janet Short, Ivy Willoughby and Marty Seidman help serve a ahot meal under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to ... more

A hot meal is served under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month of Ann Marie Tarinelli, who served meals for many years in the same location. less

A hot meal is served under a highway overpass on John Street, in downtown Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 24th, 2012. Volunteers are trying to keep the tradition of serving the meal going following the death last month ... more

Ann Marie Tarinelli, right, of Trumbull, seen here in December of 2008, speaks with Jennie Sforza during her regular meal for the homeless and underprivileged under the Route 25 overpass on John Street in Bridgeport, Conn. Tarinelli, who prepared and served meals at the location for many years, passed away Jan. 11th, 2013. She was 75. less

Ann Marie Tarinelli, right, of Trumbull, seen here in December of 2008, speaks with Jennie Sforza during her regular meal for the homeless and underprivileged under the Route 25 overpass on John Street in ... more

BRIDGEPORT -- Ann Marie Tarinelli might be gone, but local volunteers are making sure her legacy -- a monthly soup kitchen under the John Street Bridge -- continues to feed the less fortunate.

Tarinelli, 75, died in January of complications from a broken hip. Until then, she ventured from her Trumbull home to Bridgeport at least one Sunday a month bringing food -- much of which she cooked herself -- to the needy gathered under the bridge. They were among the rare hot meals many could rely upon.

"These were big, heavy trays of ziti or turkey or whatever she was serving," said Paul Bryan, of Stratford, who began helping Tarinelli with the kitchen last April, after reading about her in local newspapers.

Tarinelli's commitment has inspired others, like Bryan, to follow in her work. Since her passing, even more of her fans have stepped in and kept the effort going. They have put together at least two soup kitchens since Tarinelli's death, one of which took place last Sunday and drew more than 150 people in need.

More Information

Want to help?The soup kitchen under the John Street Bridge in Bridgeport is always looking for volunteers. To help, call Pastor Ulysses J. Youngblood Sr. at 203-334-2040.

Those trying to fill Tarinelli's shoes said it's a daunting task, but desperately needed.

Tarinelli was a Scranton, Pa., native who grew up in Bridgeport. In the last decade or so of her life, she developed a passionate commitment to feeding the homeless.

Not only did she cook the food for the soup kitchen herself, but she regularly collected food items and toiletries for those she fed. Her work earned her recognition from both the Diocese of Bridgeport and the town of Trumbull.

After she died, many wondered who would continue her work and, indeed, the path to keeping her project alive has been a bumpy one. Bryan, who had been helping her since he learned that, as she'd gotten older, carrying the heavy trays of food had gotten more challenging, was a logical successor.

But the chronic kidney problems he had for years had worsened to the point where he needed surgery. That made taking a larger role in the project impossible, Bryan said.

Fortunately, others have taken on the work, including Youngblood, who helped run the John Street kitchen in January, along with Pastor Edwardo Gonzales of Emunah Ministries in Bridgeport.

Neither man ever met Tarinelli, but both admired her work.

Gonzales said he actually became involved with the soup kitchen before Tarinelli died. She had fallen ill, and someone needed to help coordinate the operation, so he stepped forward. Youngblood became involved in the project after Tarinelli died.

Both men said they were amazed by Tarinelli's dedication to her task and the following she attracted.

"She had been doing this for the past 10 years, to my understanding, and she'd gotten great response," Youngblood said. "I'm just basically trying to carry on her legacy."

Gonzales agreed.

"Somebody's got to be there for those people," he said. "We're just trying to help get them hot food once a month."

Although it's unclear how the soup kitchen will be sustained month to month, everyone involved with the project wants to find a way to keep it going.

Michele Sommer, of Trumbull, has been baking desserts for the soup kitchen with her 13-year-old twins for the past six months.

Sommer said she -- and plenty of others -- don't want to let down the needy people who have relied on this service for years.